### 343

Quang knows only too well that discretion is the better part of valour. Your situation is untenable and he signals to Bai and Deng to abandon the hilltop. You scramble down the slope of the grassy hill as fast as your legs will carry you and reach Chao and the horses just in time. The Skarada are powerful runners and they are close on your heels. You are the first to settle in the saddle and you must choose which direction you wish to go to get away from the Skarada. You cannot head east towards the highway; a war party of Chagarashi are now awaiting you on the grassy plain and they are determined to stop you from escaping this way.

If you decide to turn to the south and make your escape along the perimeter of the hills, turn to 277.

If you decide to turn north and attempt to evade the Skarada using the cover of the tall grassland, turn to 42.